Sales for Rexel SA, Paris, increased nicely in 1Q 2012, jumping 7.4% to: €3.227 billion (US $4.24 billion). In a press release announcing the results, Rudy Provoost, chairman of the management board and CEO, said, “Rexel posted a strong performance in the first quarter, in a globally challenging context. Sales continued to grow, driven by the Americas, northern Europe and China, and we further improved our profitability through gross margin enhancement and cost control. Since the start of the year, we expanded our footprint in fast-growing markets and strengthened our presence in mature markets with eight acquisitions, which will fuel growth in the coming quarters...
"Rexel is poised to continue its profitable growth by providing its clients with value-added services and further developing its energy efficiency-related business, while continuing to focus on operational excellence. We are fully on track to achieve our financial targets for the full-year.”